Trench forming assembly having removable pin anchoring mechanism

Abstract

An assembly for forming a trench comprising a frame having two elongated members that define a support surface and at least one opening. The assembly also includes a removable grate that is disposed on the support surface and includes a hook that is disposed proximate the opening defined by the elongated frame members. The assembly also includes a removable pin that is slidably inserted through an opening defined by an elongated member and is mechanically engaged by the hook of the grate to secure the grate to the frame.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An assembly for forming a trench of a predetermined shape, comprising: 
       a frame having two elongated members that each define a support surface and at least one opening, and a plurality of leg members attached to and spaced apart along said elongated members;  
       a removable grate disposed on said support surface, said grate having an upper surface and a hook proximate a respective opening of said elongated members; and  
       at least one removable pin slidably inserted through the opening defined by said elongated member and engaged by the hook to releaseably secure the grate to said frame, said at least one pin extending through the opening at a predetermined acute angle relative to the upper surface of said grate.  
     
     
       2. An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of leg members of said frame has a U-shaped structure and is attached to both elongated members. 
     
     
       3. An assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sleeve member secured to each of said elongated members and defining a passageway aligned with respective openings defined by said elongated members for receiving a respective pin. 
     
     
       4. An assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein each sleeve member comprises a first portion that extends through the respective opening defined by said elongated member and a second portion that extends outwardly from said respective elongated member. 
     
     
       5. An assembly according to  claim 3 , further comprising a tie element for biasing the pair of elongated members toward one another, wherein said sleeve member comprises at least one outwardly extending fin, and wherein said at least one fin defines a groove for receiving a portion of said tie element. 
     
     
       6. An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each elongated member comprises an upstanding portion from which the support surface extends outwardly to thereby define a corner, and wherein each elongated member defines the at least one opening through the corner defined by the upstanding portion and the support surface. 
     
     
       7. An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the grate includes at least a first grate section and a second grate section, wherein the first grate section defines a groove and the second grate section defines a groove such that the respective grooves of the first and second grate sections are aligned to collectively define at least one opening, wherein the first and second grate sections are positioned upon said support surfaces of said elongated members such that each opening defined by the grate sections is aligned with a corresponding opening defined by an elongated member, and wherein said at least one removable pin is also slidably inserted through the opening defined by the grate sections such that the hook is formed by that portion of the grate proximate the opening defined by the grate sections and opposite the upper surface of the grate. 
     
     
       8. An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one removable pin has a threadless body. 
     
     
       9. An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined angle is about 45° relative to the upper surface of said grate. 
     
     
       10. An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each elongated member defines a plurality of openings spaced therealong, wherein each elongated member further comprises a plurality of fixed pins extending inwardly therefrom and positioned in an alternating fashion with the plurality of openings. 
     
     
       11. An assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one end rail extending between the two elongated members and having an upstanding wall defining a predetermined angle with respect to the upper surface of said grate. 
     
     
       12. An assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein said grate comprises a grate section extending lengthwise between opposed ends; wherein one end of said grate section defines an obtuse angle relative to the upper surface of said grate, and wherein the predetermined angle defined by said upstanding wall is an acute angle that is complementary to the obtuse angle defined by one end of said grate section. 
     
     
       13. An assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the grate includes at least a first grate section defining a groove, and wherein said at least one end rail also defines a groove in alignment with the groove of the first grate section such that the grooves of the at least one end rail and the first grate section collectively define an opening that is aligned with a corresponding opening defined by an elongated member for slidably receiving a respective pin. 
     
     
       14. An assembly for forming a trench of a predetermined shape, comprising: 
       a frame having two elongated members that each define a support surface and at least one opening, at least one sleeve member attached to and spaced apart along said elongated members and defining a passageway aligned with said at least one opening defined by said elongated members, and at least one leg member attached to each elongated member;  
       a removable grate disposed on said support surface, said grate comprising at least one hook proximate a respective opening of said elongated members; and  
       at least one removable pin slidably inserted through the respective opening defined by an elongated member and through the passageway defined by said at least one sleeve member and engaged by said at least one hook to releaseably secure the grate to said frame.  
     
     
       15. An assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein each sleeve member comprises a first portion that extends through the respective opening defined by said elongated member and a second portion that extends outwardly from said respective elongated member. 
     
     
       16. An assembly according to  claim 14 , further comprising a tie element for biasing the pair of elongated members toward one another, wherein said sleeve member comprises at least one outwardly extending fin, and wherein said at least one fin defines a groove for receiving a portion of said tie element. 
     
     
       17. An assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein each elongated member comprises an upstanding portion from which the support surface extends outwardly to thereby define a corner, and wherein each elongated member defines the at least one opening through the corner defined by the upstanding portion and the support surface. 
     
     
       18. An assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the grate includes at least a first grate section and a second grate section, wherein the first grate section defines a groove and the second grate section defines a groove such that the respective grooves of the first and second grate sections are aligned to collectively define at least one opening, wherein the first and second grate sections are positioned upon said support surfaces of said elongated members such that each opening defined by the grate sections is aligned with a corresponding opening defined by an elongated member, and wherein said at least one removable pin is also slidably inserted through the opening defined by the grate sections such that the at least one hook is formed by that portion of the grate proximate the opening defined by the grate sections and opposite an upper surface of the grate. 
     
     
       19. An assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said at least one removable pin has a threadless body. 
     
     
       20. An assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein each elongated member defines a plurality of openings spaced therealong, wherein each elongated member further comprises a plurality of fixed pins extending inwardly therefrom and positioned in an alternating fashion with the plurality of openings. 
     
     
       21. An assembly according to  claim 14 , further comprising at least one end rail extending between the two elongated members and having an upstanding wall defining a predetermined angle with respect to an upper surface of said grate. 
     
     
       22. An assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein said grate comprises a grate section extending lengthwise between opposed ends, wherein one end of said grate section defines an obtuse angle relative to the upper surface of said grate, and wherein the predetermined angle defined by said upstanding wall is an acute angle that is complementary to the obtuse angle defined by one end of said grate section. 
     
     
       23. An assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the grate includes at least a first grate section defining a groove, and wherein said at least one end rail also defines a groove in alignment with the groove of the first grate section such that the grooves of the at least one end rail and the first grate section collectively define an opening that is aligned with a corresponding opening defined by an elongated member for slidably receiving a respective pin.